It's kind of a funny story. I won an ARC from the lovey Sara McClung. Many of you probably have too, because she's just so generous and hosts a lot of contests on her blog.
So, I won this great book and she told me to tell her when I got it. It didn't come the first week or the second or the third, so I thought I'd let her know. Dang the postal service in December.
Then I got this URGENT sounding email. There was a good reason why I hadn't yet gotten the book. Somehow it got LOST UNDER THE FRONT SEAT OF HER CAR! So, funny. Like some plot device in those irritating movies where the clue to the mystery just happens to fall to the floor and under the bed.
Anywho, I told her no problem, these things happen. I had a good chuckle and I was fine knowing it was now on its way.
But, being the sweetie that she is, she insisted on sending me an Amazon gift card. I told her she didn't have to but she did, (Thanks, Sara!) so now I have a gift card.
If you know me you'll know that I'm that person at the restaurant who can't decide what to order. There's just too much to choose from. In fact, once I find a dish I like, I just order the same thing every time. You can ask my husband.
This is where you come in. I need help making a book purchase choice. What was your best read of 2011? I promise to tell you what I end up buying.
Thanks for your help! (And thanks again, Sara!)
And before I end here, I just want to let you know about the 12 Days of Christmas big .99 e-book Christmas sale. CLOCKWISE is featured on day 10. The price goes up on Dec 26.
About Me
- Elle Strauss
- I write Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. I'm a married mom of four, and live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. I'm fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. My Young Adult rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE and contemporary/otherworldly Middle Grade IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE are now available on Amazon.
Hi Elle. What a great story about the lost book!
ReplyDeleteI've read several books I really loved, but each is so different.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is an atmospheric tale based on a Celtic legend. It stole my heart.
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is gorgeously written fantasy, which is kind of an angel/demon Romeo and Juliet.
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi is written in extraordinary style and yanked my heartstrings.
With a Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo is middlegrade (the others are YA) historical fiction that managed to be riveting and heartwarming.
Tricia - Thanks for the great recommendations, Tricia, all of which I've heard glowing reviews of before, so will be a consideration.
ReplyDeleteI loved so many books this year - Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep was one of my favorites. It's a really great series that has a cool twist on mythology. I also loved Witch's Brew by Heidi R Kling which was a super fun fantasy. I also loved A Touch Mortal, Angelfire, and Saving June and so many more! :)
ReplyDeleteThe best read so far was a friend's manuscript so sorry, it isn't available yet. But the other is CHOSEN (adult paranormal) by Denise Grover Swank. It blew me away! Then there's Possession (dystopian with a twist)that was fabulous. Hope those help!
ReplyDeleteMentor by Tom Grimes, A Discovery of Witches, The Night Circus - beautiful magical book, Suite Francaise, The Dip by Seth Godin, there's a few from my most recent reading list....HA! Have fun choosing....
ReplyDeleteHeather and Jane - thanks! I see this is going to be harder than I thought. :)
ReplyDeleteI've read quite a few that I loved; but the one that stays with me is Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh this is though! hum, I'm reading Variant right now and really enjoying that, but the book that sticks out the most is Divergent. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteMy best book of 2011 was THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO! Not a banner year, but that one stood out. :)
ReplyDeleteDL-I read that. I can see why it's doing well, though the author did break a few of the "must not do" rules of writing :)
ReplyDeleteOh dear, you're pushing my librarian's buttons. :)
ReplyDeleteLet's see:
-best newly-written ebook (other than "Clockwise", of course): Christopher Bunn's "Tormay" trilogy. But that's High Fantasy, not really your thing, I think.
-best romantic re-read: Jane Austen (no Amazon card required; they're free from Project Gutenberg).
-best mystery re-read: Georgette Heyer's cozies, "Duplicate Death" and others
-best kids' fantasy: Diana Wynne Jones' "Enchanted Glass"
I'll skip nonfiction, picture books, etc... :)
I loved The Hunger Games-- The whole series. Not one disappointed!
ReplyDeleteI'd say
ReplyDelete-Room (Emma Donoghue)
-The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein)
-Nothing Stays in Vegas (Elena Aitken)
Leanne
I loved Possession and Delirium.
ReplyDeleteThe Near Witch and The Girl of Fire and Thorns were superb.
ReplyDeleteSara is such a generous sweetheart.
I have the first 4 books on Tricia's list and am dying to read them this month. I loved The Girl of Fire and Thorns and Legend. So many choices, I agree.
ReplyDeleteurgh. Daughter of Smoke & Bone. Seriously. :p
ReplyDeleteElle - this is a tough one - you've been given some amazing choices and I will be following up on some of these recommendations myself.
ReplyDeleteI read, and thoroughly enjoyed, the debut novel,
CREEP, by Jennifer Hillier, which I reviewed last week - feel free to drop by and take a look.
If my recommendation doesn't make the Gift Card cut, then please put it on your reading list as a must read down the road.
Good luck with your decision! I know you will pick well!
Jenny @ PEARSON REPORT
The best book I read this year was a debut novel by Ruth Burkett Weeks titled SOLDIERS FROM THE MIST. I became so emotional attached to the characters, I continued to think about them for weeks after I finished the novel. I stayed up until 4:00 AM to finish it.
ReplyDeleteSome 2011 favorites of mine that I think *you* might like:
ReplyDeleteTHE NEAR WITCH by Victoria Schwab (YA fantasy)
EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL BEGAN AFTER by Simon Van Booy (lit fic)
THE BERLIN BOXING CLUB by Robert Sharenow (YA historical fic)
DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver
Enjoy!
The Night Circus! Excellent read.
ReplyDelete